THE BULLETIN

1st October 2017

Number 10

Midweek Matches

On Tuesday evening there were eight First Division fixtures and with none of the top three in action, Devizes Town were the big movers after their 4-3 win at home to Welton Rovers. A hat-trick from Jake Roberts, plus a goal from Tom Slater were enough for Devizes against a Welton side who scored twice in the final ten minutes through Alex Chapman and Malick Jammeh after Lewis Coleman had given them a 2nd minute lead. There was also a treble for Adam Jones in Cheddar’s 3-2 win at home to Chard Town, while James Quick scored twice as Bishops Lydeard stormed to a 3-1 win away at Wincanton Town. On a night of hat-trick hero’s, James Rustell scored a first-half treble in Radstock Town’s 5-1 win over Chippenham Park. Morgan Skipp and Matt Minnis adding goals after the break to complete Radstock’s big win, while at the Southbank, Jack Miluk scored a penalty ten minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw for Warminster Town away at Corsham Town. There was also a big away win for Roman Glass St George, with a double from Joe Swift adding to goals from Lewis Wentland and Sam Wentland in their 4-1 victory over Keynsham Town. Neurin Jones scored a winner nine minutes from time as Malmesbury Victoria claimed a 2-1 win on the road against ten-man Calne Town, and at Bristol Road, goals either side of the break from Ashley Knight and Alex Bisp led Almondsbury to a 2-1 victory over Portishead Town.

In the lone Premier Division matchup on Wednesday night, Lewis Shipp scored twice in Cadbury Heath’s 4-3 win at home to Longwell Green Sports, and in the Devon FA St Lukes Bowl, Brett Worbey fired home a first-half hat-trick in Willand Rovers’ 6-1 rout of Ivybridge.

FA Cup and FA Vase

Bridport’s excellent run in the FA Cup came to an end on Saturday after they fell to a 2-1 defeat away at St Albans City. The National League South side took the lead in the 24th minute through early sub Shaun Lucien, before Percy Kiangebeni doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark following a deflected effort. Bridport’s second-half performance was one to be proud of, and in the 65th minute they got themselves back into the game thanks to a goal from Leigh Bailey but they couldn’t force home the equaliser and will now have to concentrate on league matters. In the FA Vase on Sunday Malmesbury Victoria fell to a 3-1 defeat against the London Lions in their rescheduled tie following last week’s abandonment.

Premier Division

Bradford Town extended their unbeaten league run this season to ten games after defeating Bridgwater Town 2-1 at Trowbridge Road. Left-back Rickie Scott set them on their way midway through the first-half, opening the scoring following great build-up play from Sam Jordan. Jordan then grabbed a goal of his own to double the advantage after heading home an Ashton Shanley cross, before Jack Taylor scored late on in defeat for Bridgwater. Buckland Athletic are still the side to catch at the top of the table however, and they returned to winning way with a 2-1 victory away at Cribbs. The league leaders were two goals ahead inside half an hour following goals from Ben Carter and Nick Rudge, and they managed to hold on for all three points despite Jack McKenna scoring 20 minutes from time for the hosts. Second-placed Willand Rovers sealed their third win of the week in a third different competition following a 3-0 triumph at home to Clevedon Town. The away side were given a golden opportunity to break the deadlock just before half-time when they were awarded a penalty, but Isaac Reid was thwarted by Willand keeper Mike Searle. That save was the catalyst for a big second half from Rovers, with goals from James Blake, Luke Mortimore and Ryan Guppy completing the win. In an entertaining affair, Hallen and Wellington shared the points following a 3-3 draw. Hallen went ahead on two occasions through Aaron Anglin and Tom Hallett only to see their visitors draw level thanks to goals from Ollie Nott and Sam Fowler. With six minutes remaining, Wellington took their first lead of the game with Ian Bellinger slotting home, but Hallen restored parity with Anglin firing home. There was also a 3-3 draw between Shepton Mallet and Chipping Sodbury Town, with George Morris-Edwards scoring an equaliser for the hosts late on. Street secured their seventh league win of the campaign with a 6-1 thumping of Brislington at Ironmould Lane. Steve Murray scored his 11th and 12th goals of the campaign in the big win, with David O’Hare also firing home a double adding to goals from Josh Wadham and Harry Foster in the one-sided affair. Melksham Town ended a run of five matches without victory after beating Hengrove Athletic 2-0 at the Oakfield Stadium. Gary Higdon is already up to ten league goals this season after breaking the deadlock in the first-half, and then Ben Thomson put the result beyond doubt with Melksham’s second just after the hour mark. Tom Knighton scored twice in the opening 25 minutes, and Dean Griffiths netted just before half-time as Bitton defeated Wells City despite finishing the game with nine-men. At Springfield there was a goalless draw between Cadbury Heath and Odd Down.

First Division

In the early-season top-of-the-table clash, Westbury United defeated Bristol Telephones 2-1 at Meadow Lane to extend their lead to five points. After going ahead, the Phones indiscipline cost them, and after seeing their keeper sent-off, they also conceded a penalty which Dan Kovacs converted to draw the sides level. It then fell to Ricky Hulbert to complete the turnaround after the break, handing Westbury a much cherished three points. Cheddar have now four of their last five after defeating Portishead Town 4-0 with Chris Coombes scoring twice for the hosts, adding to goals from Craig Mawford and Adam Jones. Chippenham Park overturned a half-time deficit to win 3-1 away at Bishop Sutton and claim their first win in four weeks. The barren run looked like continuing when Park fell behind to a Mason Dagger strike, but they managed to turn it around in the second half thanks to a goal from Charlie Norman and a double from Jamie Norman.

Marcus Cook’s impressive start to the season continued, as his brace led Wincanton Town to a 2-1 win away at Roman Glass St George, while goals in either half from Ben Wickens and Josh Bright saw Corsham Town beat Almondsbury 2-0. In a six-goal thriller, Tom Slater bagged a hat-trick as Devizes Town came from behind to defeat Chard Town. Alex Stafie opened the scoring for Chard after just three minutes, before Devizes scored four unanswered. Slater fired home three of those for the visitors, and there was also an own-goal, before Stafie added his second in the losing cause late on. Calne Town’s struggles continued as they fell to a 3-0 defeat away at Welton Rovers. Callum Elms slid through Chris Pile who opened the scoring after just six minutes, and then twenty minutes later Welton were two-ahead thanks to a fine finish from Joe Battrick. The scoring was complete late on by Malick Jammeh who fired home a penalty 12 minutes from time after the striker had been hauled down in the opposition’s box. There was also a 3-0 win for Radstock Town over Ashton & Backwell United thanks to goals from James Rustell, Jack Biddiscombe and Jack Sanderson, while Sam Duggan, Kyle Box, Matt Brown, Craig Wilson and Jason Adams all got on the scoresheet in Keynsham Town’s 5-2 victory away at Sherborne Town. Two goals in the final moments of the game at the Aitchison Playing Field led Oldland Abbotonians to a 3-1 win at home to Warminster Town. Warminster had drawn the game level after Josh Williams’ opener, but then in the 89th minute Courtney Charles put Oldland back ahead and they wrapped the three points up thanks to Scott Gregory.